Citizenfour
Director: Laura Poitras
Rating: 4.5/5
Laura Poitras is filmmaker who has already brought us documentaries such as Flag Wars and The Oath, and this week she is back with Citizenfour.
Citizenfour played at the BFI London Film Festival to acclaim earlier this month, and it looks set to be one of the best films in this genre this year.
Citizenfour explores the abuse of national security in American post 9/11. During the filming of this movie, Poitras was put in contact with a man who was ready to lift the lid on the massive covert surveillance programs run by the NSA and other intelligence agencies.
That man turned out to be Edward Snowden. She brought her camera with her. The film that resulted from this series of tense encounters is absolutely sui generis in the history of cinema: a 100% real-life thriller unfolding minute by minute before our eyes.
Citizenfour is one of the best documentaries that I have had the privilege of watching this year, as Poitras has delivered a film that is riveting, fascinating, and infuriating.
A year ago, Snowden was painted as a villain for revealing some of the USA's biggest secrets, but Citizenfour really does introduce us to this now infamous figure.
This is a documentary that you should watch whether you think Snowden is a hero or a traitor, as you really do get a better sense of the man and why he did what he did.
Poitras just steps back and really allows Snowden to do that talking - this is not a movie that judges, it is one that allows him to get his points of view very articulately across.
Snowden is clearly a very clever man who truly believes in what he did and the decisions that he made. But Citizenfour makes him seem even more human, as his warmth and humour also come across in bucket loads.
This is a story that is still so fresh in all our minds, and yet Poitras has made it feel fresh and new, as well as their being a very human side to it as well.
Poitras also presents evidence of government spying, but really does allow the audience to make up their own mind about how they feel about that.
Citizenfour really is an eye-opening and at times chilling movie about government invasion, which is truly riveting from start to finish.
I have seen some terrific documentaries so far this year, but Citizenfour is definitely up there amongst the best. If you have been following this story over the last year, this is a movie that you just have to see.
Citizenfour is out now.